Angelina Maccarone's Unveiled, a gripping drama about an Iranian lesbian seeking refuge in Germany, is being released this week by Wolfe Video. Also, the surprise French hit Games of Love and Chance and the Oscar nominated English comedy Mrs. Henderson Presents.
1. Unveiled (Fremde Haut)
German filmmaker Angelina Maccarone's Unveiled will get you thinking about many things: the fear and daily hardship of illegal immigrants, the universal bleakness of small towns everywhere, and the blessing of human kindesss. Jasmin Tabatabai gives a truly remarkable performance, portraying an Iranian woman who flees to Germany after being persecuted in Iran.
2. Mrs. Henderson Presents
Naked women abound in this tasteful and warm English drama. Dame Judi Dench was nominated for her performance as a bored society matron who buys a shuttered London theater in the 1930s and produces a risquee music hall show. Be warned: in addition the beautiful ladies, Bob Hoskins also takes off his clothes.
3. Games of Love and Chance (L'Esquive)
Abdel Kechiche's second feature is a gritty, realistic portrait of life in a downtrodden Parisian housing project. Featuring a cast of wildly appealing, unprofessional actors, Games of Love and Chance exhilaratingly captures the tumultuous ups-and-downs of adolescence. The widespread success of the film took France by surprise, winning four Cesar Awards (including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Female Newcomer)4. The Chess Players
Indian master Satyajit Ray's 1997 film The Chess Players tells the story of the independent kingdom of Awadh, which becomes threatened with the colonial aspirations of the British Empire and the devious machinations of a British General (Sir Richard Attenborough) eager to annex the kingdom.